Senator Michelle Kidani
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DISTRICT 18 REPORT ~ MAY 2014 Senator Michelle Kidani (D) Senate District 18 – Serving Mililani Town, Waipio Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia Aloha friends and neighbors, The Legislative session adjourned early this month, and I would like to let residents of our district know about how the issues we voted on affect you and your families. Some of the higher profile issues during the session included approval of the first increase in the state’s minimum wage since 2007. The minimum will rise to $10.10 per hour by January 2018, boosting the income of Hawaii’s lowest paid workers to give them more money to spend and invest, increasing economic activity and growth, while helping them to care for their families. In the final days of the session, the Legislature adopted Senator David Ige’s plan to finance a land purchase that will preserve more than 600 acres of precious shoreline property on Oahu’s north shore, assuring public access to beaches and preventing further development in those areas. The Legislature also took significant steps toward increasing support for our rising kupuna population, dealing with the spread of invasive species and a commitment to address the threats of climate change. We passed an important education bill, establishing mandatory kindergarten for all 5-year-olds, that is now law. We have pledged to build firm foundations for our early learning system to assure future success for our keiki. My responsibility as Vice Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means is to formulate the State’s construction program. The budget we approved this year provides nearly $900 million to continue the process begun over the last few years in renovating, repairing and maintaining existing state-owned facilities. We made a major commitment to our public schools for these kinds of projects in the amount of $700 million, with another $90 million allocated to the University of Hawaii. We also authorized $1.9 billion to the State Department of Transportation for highways, harbors and airports. You’ll find a summary of projects for schools, highways and other items that are specific to District 18 on page two of this newsletter. This was my sixth Legislative session, and in many ways the most challenging as the issues we face grow more complex and the demands on the state budget – funded by taxpayer dollars – continue to increase. Of course, my permanent staff and I continue to be available at the Capitol to serve your needs, and I will be at many community meetings and neighborhood events through the year. Mahalo for your continued involvement and support. Me ke Aloha pumehana, Hail to the Champions! A very proud and happy Mililani Principal Fred Murphy and I posed with Head Coach Rose Antonio and the championship trophy following the Trojans victory in the state tournament. It was an especially sweet moment for me, since I had ‘coached the coaches’ – Rose and her twin sister Assistant Coach Joyce Antonio Kong – when I was a coach and Vice President of the Mililani High School Varsity Girls Softball ~ 2014 State Champs! Mililani-Waipio Bobby Sox Softball League. At the Capitol: Projects Funded for Senate District 18 Improving our schools Roads and Highways Several millions of dollars have been allocated in the Work continues to improve and maintain our major state budget for repairs, maintenance and improvements at highways to assure the safety of drivers and their vehicles: virtually all of Hawaii’s public school facilities. Here are $4,000,000 – Kamehameha Highway, for construction some projects for schools in Senate District 18: of rockfall and slope protection measures near Kipapa Bridge $1,800,000 – Kaleiopuu Elementary School, for $4,000,000 – Kamehameha Highway, for construction planning and design work for a new classroom building and equipment for resurfacing and installation of lighting from and related equipment Lumiauau Street to Lanikuhana Street [W e are still waiting for DOT to begin paving work using funds from 2011.] $750,000 – Mililani High School, for design, construction and equipment to replace remaining wooden UH Campuses bleachers with aluminum seating at the MHS athletic Improvements and expansion are underway at “our” complex University of Hawaii campuses to better serve Central and $1,500,000 – Royal Kunia Elementary School, West Oahu families: funding for planning, design and initial construction of a $8,000,000 – Leeward Community College – for design, new elementary school construction and equipment for renovations of the LCC Theatre $400,000 – Waikele Elementary School, for $28,000,000 – UH West Oahu – for construction of the new allied health and administration building planning and design for expansion of the school library and improvements to include digital media capability Agriculture $1,200,000 – Waipahu High School, for planning $550,000 for a pilot program to test growing aquaponics and design of a new classroom building produce at Mari’s Gardens in Mililani $2,000,000 – Waipahu High School, for upgrades to $6,750,000 for improvements to the Waiahole water the campus electrical system system to assist Kunia and Central Oahu farmers Grant-in-Aid $550,000 - for upgrades to air conditioning at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu At the end of this year’s Legislative session we said fond farewell to one of our longest serving members – Senator David Ige – who has been a member of the Legislature for more than half his life. Senator Ige was appointed to a vacant seat in the State House when he was just 28 years old, and after nine years as a Representative, he was elected to the Senate. I presented a congratulatory message signed by all of his colleagues, noting that his tenure “has been marked by thoughtful, intelligent, insightful and forward-thinking policy proposals that have always sought to build solid foundations for a better Hawaii. His well-recognized ability to understand the big picture implications of decisions for which we are responsible as elected officials has contributed to his effectiveness as a leader among us.” Away from the Capitol, Senator Ige is a successful electrical engineer and project manager with a 34-year career devoted to information technology, telecommunications, networks and responsible public communication policy. His wife Dawn, and his children Lauren, Amy and Matthew, have totally supported both his professional and public service careers. My colleagues and I are grateful for his service and wish him the best in the years ahead. The eight women members of the Senate are part of the Women’s Legislative Caucus that includes the sixteen women members in the State House of Representatives. The caucus introduced important bills and resolutions relating to human trafficking and sexual assault. Three of the bills were sent to the Governor and are awaiting his approval. I am proud to serve with (from left) Senators Suzanne Chun Oakland, Malama Solomon, Rosalyn Baker, Laura Thielen, our Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, Jill Tokuda and Maile Shimabukuro. Contact: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 228 Phone: (808) 586-7100; E-mail: [email protected] We Salute Our Students and School Leaders . State Judiciary Honors Waipahu High School Students Six students from Waipahu High School recently completed a community service project at the State Judiciary’s Hale Hilinai – a center providing community-based services and programs for juveniles in the courts’ detention program. The students from the Cisco Academy of Information Technology at WHS installed a new security system at the facility. The students and mentors along with Judiciary personnel (photo at left) were honored in a brief ceremony at the Hawaii WHS students (above) Cesar Supreme Court that included a presentation Catchin, Jimwel Aguinaldo, by Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Mark Ariel Dela Pena and John Recktenwald (far left). That’s WHS teacher Guerrerro at Hale Hilinai. Not and advisor Cindy Takara next to the Chief pictured: team members Renz Justice. Chief Justice Recktenwald Sagabaen and Cia Monique thanked the student team for their time, Dela Cruz. service and hard work. Mililani and Waipahu School Administrators Recognized for Leadership and Innovation We are so proud that two Hawaii public school administrators in my Senate district have been singled out for distinction by their peers. Waipahu High School Principal Keith Hayashi and Mililani Middle School Principal Elynne Chung have been honored as Principals of the Year for 2015 for their respective grade levels by the Hawaii Association of Secondary School Administrators. Keith Hayashi has developed college and career readiness programs that are models for the rest of the state. With me and the principals at this month’s Elynne Chung has led her school’s recognition lunch are Representatives development of innovative after-school programs and study skills that have Roy Takumi and Ryan Yamane. improved math and reading scores above state averages. Both principals previously received the Tokioka Award for Excellence in School Leadership. Congratulations to both; we are grateful for what they do to nurture our keiki. This way to the future ... Commencement Day at UH West Oahu brought families and friends to U.S. Congresswoman Colleen the Lower Courtyard to honor more Hanabusa delivered the main address. than 160 graduates who received their Also, the UHWO Band performed for degrees and certificates. the first time at commencement since it was formed in January. In Our Communities . Anyone who has driven along Farrington or Kamehameha Highways knows rail is for real and that construction is moving along rapidly. I visited Waipahu High School earlier this month to assess the impact of the rail route adjacent to the WHS athletic fields. With me from left, WHS Principal Keith Hayashi, Karley Halsted, HART project manager for the West Oahu— Farrington Highway segment, and WHS Athletic Director Stacie Nii.